Broom holder



Sept.1o,1946. H, SOKQLQFF 2,407,457

BROOM4 HOLDER Filed Jan. 22, 1944 .1| Il" Y i r al i/7%', INVENTOR.

UTM/ver.

Patented Sept. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to the broom and mop making art and particularly,to devices for detachably connecting the fibers of a broom to a handle.

In the manufacture of brooms it has long been common practice topermanently anchor the handle to the broom fibers. After the fibers havebecome worn to the extent that the broom is no longer useful, the handlemust also be discarded.

It is the principal object of this invention therefore, to provide adevice for detachably securing a handle to a broom in a simple andeffective manner, thereby permitting the use of a single handle for aseries of brooms.

This invention has for a further aim to provide a connector or holder ofthe above character, having embodied therein unique clamping means forfirmly anchoring the connector to the broom fibers. without theA use oftools or the like.

A yetv further aim of this invention is the provision of a connectorhaving mating halves joined together in a manner to permit spreading ofthe jaw portions thereof, to facilitate mounting of the holder on thebroom fibers.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the course of thefollowing specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a broom joined to a handle by a holderor connector constructed in accordance with the preferred form of thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the preferred form of holder in removedcondition from a broom, shown fragmentarily.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the holder taken on line III-Ill of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the connector taken en line IV-IV of Fig.1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of holder, a handleportion positioned therein being indicated in dotted lines.

In the preferred form of invention illustrated in Figs. l to 4 of thedrawing, the numeral I0 designates a hood-shaped holder or connector forjoining the broom fibers I2 t0 a handle I4.

Holder it comprises a pair of mating members It formed of sheet metal,plastic or any other suitable substance, and having inwardly curved,upper arcuate edges i8, spaced slightly from each other. At the uppercenter of members I6 are semi-circular extensions or projections 2Dlikewise spaced from each other and serving to form a ferrule for handleI4.

Reinforcing beads 22 of arcuate cross section bridge the spaced upperedges I8 of members I6 and extend along these edges from a point nearthe lower edges 24 of members I 6 to the upper ends of extensions 20..It should be noted that the opposite edges of beads 22 are soldered,welded or otherwise xed throughout their length of the respectiveopposite halves of holder I0, excepting for that portion of eachbead-which extends along projection 20. As is clearly shown in Figs. 2and 4, only one edge of one bead is fastened to the projecting portion20 of one member IS, while one edge of the other bead is sef cured tothe extension of the remaining member I5. Likewise, it will be clearfrom these figures that each bead is slit, as indicated at 26, from itslower edge to a point adjacent its zone of juncture with extensions 2D.By reason of this unique structure, it is possible to spread. the loweror jaw edges 24 of. members I 6 apart to facilitate mounting of theholder over thev upper ends 28 ofthe broom fibers I2. Itis further.possible to firmly clamp the extensions 20 against the broom handle I4.The latter may be accomplished by passing a bolt 30 through an aperture32 in one extension, through a hole 34 in handle I4, and threading itinto an opening 36 in the opposite extension. A head 38 on the bolt 30in the form of a thumb nut, simplifies the procedure of attaching andremoving the holder from the handle.

A band 40, secured at its approximate center to one of the matingmembers I6, near its lower edge, terminates at one end in spaced ears 42between which is pivotally mounted a locking arm .44. The other end ofthe band is provided with an opening 46 for receiving the locking armwhich is projected therethrough and employed as a lever for drawing theband tightly around the holder. Opening 46 is sumciently large toreceive ears 42, which rest therein when the band has been fullycontracted and, in this condition, a loop 48 slidably mounted on theband is moved over arm 44, as shown in Fig, 1, to maintain the jawportions of members I6 in tight engagement with the upper end of broomI2. Spurs or protuberances 5!) extending inwardly from members I Eadjacent their lower edges, further assist in preventing dislodgment ofthebroorn from the holder when band 40 is contracted.

The manner of attaching a, handle I4 to a broom I2 with a holder II]constructed as described, will be clear from the foregoing.

It will be found preferable to iirst mount the holder on the broom sinceobviously, the jaw edges of the former may be more readily spread if theextensions 20 are free to move toward each other.

Beads 22, therefore, serve not only as ilexible connections for joiningthe mating members I6, but also as reinforcing strips to strengthen theupper edges of these members, together with the ferrule portion ofholder lll.

In the modified form of invention illustrated in Fig. 5, theconstruction of the holder 6D is similar to that of holder Il), but inthe latter form the mating members 62 are completely separated from eachother. A band 64, much like band 22, is provided with a modied type offastener comprising an arm or lever 56, pivoted to one end of the bandand a link 58 pivotally joining the opposite end of the band to the armintermediate its ends. When arm 66 is swung on its pivot to tighten band64, it is held in place by a loop 10 slidably mounted on the band.Cooperating extensions l2 on each of members 62 may be fastened tohandle I4 in exactly the same manner as that employed in the preferredform. If desired, however, one of the extensions 'l2 may be rigidlysecured to the handle before th'e broom I2 is mounted in one-half of theholder, whereupon the other half of the holder is positioned in placeand fastened to the handle.

Throughout the speciiication, this invention has been referred to asbeing particularly applicable for connecting a broom to a handle, butobviously, it would be equally practical for removably connectingcertain types of mops and other articles to handle members.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the objects of thisinvention have been accomplished and, while it is conceivable that othermodifications might be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a holder comprising a pair oimating members, each having an extension in its upper end for receivinga handle therebetween; reinforcing beads having their opposed marginaledges overlapping said pair of members and secured thereto to hold themembers in spaced apart relation to each other, said beads being slitlongitudinally throughout a portion of their length to permit limitedspreading of the members when mounting said holder on a broom; and meansfor drawing said spaced members toward each other.

2. In a device of the character described, a holder comprising a pair ofmating members each having an extension on its upper end, saidextensions combining to form a ferrule for a handle, said members havingparallel lower jaw portions; reinforcing beads having their opposedmarginal edges secured to said pair of members from their lower jawportions to the extensions, said beads being longitudinally slitthroughout a portion of their length at the edges of the jaw portionsopposite th'e ferrule to permit flaring of the members when mountingsaid holder on a broom; and means for drawing the jaw portions of saidspaced members toward each other.

3. In a device of the character described, a holder comprising a pair ofmating members each having an extension on its upper end, saidextensions combining to form a ferrule for a handle, said members havingparallel lower jaw edges; beads having opposed edges secured to saidpair of members from their lower1 jaw edges to the extensions, one beadhaving one edge secured to the extension of one member, 4the other beadhaving one edge secured to the extension of the other member, said beadsbeing slit from their lower edges to a point adjacent the extensions topermit limited spreading of the jaw edges when mounting said holder on abroom, and to simultaneously permit movement of said extensions towardeach other; and means for clamping the jaw edges of the members againstopposite sides of a. broom.

HERMAN SOKOLOFF.

